Attachment for bedsteads



* FIPBOO'I OR 3%.?(31

SUBSTITUTE {50R MISSING QR (No Model.)

J. W. BOWLES.

ATTAGHMENT FOR BBDSTBADS. No. 329,261. Patented Oct. 27, 18 85.

| I Il ll WITNESSES INVHNTOR a4q/ S BY flaw UNTTED STATES PATENT rarest JAMES W. BOVLES, OF LOUISVILLE, KENTUCKY.

ATTACHMENT FOR BEDSTEADS.

Serial No. 173,664.

JPECE JICATIQN forming part of Letters Patent No. 329,261, dated October 2'7, 1885.

(No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JAMES W. BOWLES, a citizen of the United States, residing at Louisville, in the county of J eiferson and State of Kentucky, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Attachments for Bedsteads,of which the following is a description.

This invention is an improvement in bedstead attachments, and has for an object to provide a guard-board for beds which may be used to separate two or more persons sleeping in a bed, or it may be used at the edge of a bed to prevent children and others from falling out when asleep.

The invention consists in certain novel constructions, combinations, and arrangements of parts, as will be hereinafter described and claimed.

In the drawings, Figure l is a side view of my improvement in place between sections of head and foot boards of abedstead. Fig. 2 is a top view of such construction. Fig. 3 is a detached section on line x 00, Fig. 1; and Figs. 4 and 5 show modifications, as will be described.

The main section A of niyguard provided in its lower end with a slot or recess, a, which extends forward and downward, and permits the bed-clothing, when fitted over such guard, to be drawn close around the neck of the sleeper.

In order to conveniently secure the guard to a bedstead, so the same may be detached at will, I preferably provide the opposite ends of such guards with long hooks a a, fitted to engage in eyes I) b of the head and foot boards B Ban arrangement which will allow the upper and lower sections to be turned back against the head and foot boards, or be lifted entirely off when desired. The hooks are made long, so that any slight vertical movement of the guard will not detach the same, and such guard may be set higher to permit the application of additional covering to the bed in case the guard should be used on top of the bed-clothes. Manifestly, however, the guard may, instead of using the hooks and eyes, be slid vertically in grooves formed by cleats or otherwise on the inner faces of the head and foot boards, as shown in Fig. 4.

The lower section is connected with the main section by adovetail joint at O, and the joint may be braced by hooks and eyes 0 O", as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. The lower section is formed with a support, D, and a table-section, E, hinged at its lower edge to said support. It is preferred to form this hinge as shown most clearly in Fig. 3, or in other well-known manner, so the table-section maybe turned down on either side as desired, as will be understood from Fig. 3. By the described construction the lower section may be raised until the table passes above the joint with section A, when such table may be turned down on either side, and, resting on the bed, serve as a convenient support for infant-napkins and like objects which may be needed through the night. A bracket, F, is sawed out of the table-section and serves to support a tumbler or cup. It is preferred to hinge this bracket at f and provide 1t at such point with an arm,f, which willengage the table and secure the bracket in a horizontal position when such table is set vertically edgewise. When the table is turned to a horizontal plane, the bracket may rest flat thereon. It will be understood that, instead of sawing the bracket from the table-sectiom it might be a separate piece or board hinged to the side of such section, as shown in Fig. 5. It is preferred to form this bracket with an upwardly-projecting edge rim, f, which may be of rubber or other suit-able substance. The side guard may be made with or without the bracket. When used between the sides of the bed as a separator between persons, the d vice may be used above or below the covering, Vheu used below the covering, it in wint serves to relieve the sleeper of some of the weight of the heavy bed-clothing, and in summer, by holding the bed-clothing clear of the person, it permits a better ventilation and renders the bed more comfortable, as will be understood. When used at the side of the ed, the guard may be held in a manner similar to the arrangement for securing it between such sides; or the main section may be removed or turned back against the head-board and the lower section be used alone as a side guard by securing its upper end by hooks G G, attached to the head-board, engaging the r on the bedstead-slats.

5 a horizontal position, as desired.

IO may be of other suitable construction-as, for

instance, short detachable or attachable legs to aid the hooks in keeping the guard upright. One of these legs might be arranged to run along the inner surface of the board and rest The other leg should be made longer and run along the outer surface and rest on the floor. These legs might be slipped in iron staples long and fiat on top, so that when the board is used between the sides of a bed the legs may be conveniently removed, as shown in Fig. 5.

In the construction shown, legs H H are hinged to the side of the table and the hinges I have each one strap secured to the end of aleg and the other strap pivoted at i to the guard, so

the leg maybe turned out at right angles to the plane ot'thetable, orbe oscillated in planes parallel therewith. I prefer, also, to employ these logs on each side of the table, as in practice,

when used as a side guard, the legs may rest vertically on opposite sides of the side board of the bed and brace the table when the latter is used vertically; or the legs may be turned outward from and supportthe tablein Obviously one or both sides of the guard maybe padded or cushioned to prevent children from being injured thereagainst, as shown at y, Fig. 2. \Vhen turned down at the side of the bed in 4.0 day-time, the table-section willserve as aseat,

preventing persons from sitting on the side of the bed and spoiling its makeup. In use as a division between sleepers the guard prevents one from breathing the breath of the 5 other, and in such use the weight of the guard,

when it is placed on top of the bed-clothing, holds the latter in place, preventing children from throwing it off, and when it is used under the bed-clothes the slot aids in keeping the children covered.

Heretofore in bedstcads dividing or partition boards have been hinged at their upper ends to the inner side of the head-board, so they can be turned back against the same, and the hinge-connection has. been so formed as to admit of the Vertical adjustment of the partitions to suit different thicknesses of bed and covering. I do not broadly claim such construction as my invention; but,

. Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new is 1. In a guard attachment for bedsteads, the main section A, provided in its lower end with a forwardly-extended slot, whereby the bedclothing may be drawn close around the necks of the sleepers, substantially as set forth.

2. A guard attachment for bedsteads, comprising a support and a table-section pivoted at its lower edge thereto, whereby such tablesection may be turned to a horizontal position, substantially as set forth.

3. The combination, in a guard attachment for bedsteads, of a support, a table-section pivotally secured at its lower edge thereto, whereby it may be turned to a horizontal position, and braces for such table, substantially as set forth.

4.. The improved guard attachment, sub stantially as herein described and shown, consisting of the main section provided at its lower end with a forwardly-projected slot, the lower section detachably secured to said main section, and comprising a support and a tablesection pivoted thereto, a bracket mounted on said table-section, and braces for such section, substantially as set forth.

5. A guard for bedsteads, comprising an upper or main section andalower section having its upper end detachably connected with the lower end of the main section, substantially as set forth.

6. The combination, with abedstead-guard, ofa bracket, F, pivoted at one edge to such guard and having its other edge movable to the opposite sides thereof, and astop whereby said guard may be secured horizontally, substantially as set forth.

JAMES \V. BOWLES.

Witnesses:

JOSEPH SHORT, WARREN MrroHELL. 

